Olli Maatta, the 19-year-old rookie defenseman of the Pittsburgh Penguins, might be spectator on Tuesday as a healthy scratch, while his team faces the New Jersey Devils.

That’s according to a report in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Tuesday morning. Maatta, the club’s first-round pick, 22nd overall, in 2012 has played well in his first season with the Penguins but has gone through a rough patch of late, going a combined minus-three in his last three games.

“His play maybe hasn’t been as strong in the past couple (of games). When his play is good, he’s been worked with and coached and looked at video. That’s certainly going to happen during this stretch as well.”

The Penguins are running away with the Metropolitan Division, currently with a record of 29-11-1. Their 59 points is 14 ahead of the second-place Washington Capitals.

The kids 19 years old and has been playing top pair minutes with all of the injuries. He’s struggled in the last few games, but that’s to be expected from a teenager. He has a bright future but deserves a few games off to get his game together.

He has had a few really rough couple games. But that happens with teenage rookies. It could help to let him sit and watch, or it could help to let him play through it, maybe play him a little bit less for a few games. Is there anyone else much better to replace him?

I agree with my fellow commenters. He’s made a lot of mistakes in the past few games, and mostly because of fatigue. The type of mistakes he wasn’t making at the outset of the season. Players are usually very tired at this time of the year and use the holiday break to recharge their batteries for the second half, and it is much more difficult for a young kid.

I think it was smart of the Penguins to give Matta a breather. The only concern I have is if his so tired now, he will probably be exhausted come playoff time. Hopefully the olympic break will do him some good.